KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Deshea Townsend

Born on September 8, 1975, in Batesville, MS to Willie B. And Lena Mae Townsend. He is the second youngest of six siblings Donnell, Priscilla, Terry, Christopher, and Lameisha. Growing up Deshea was always passionate about sports and had some great role model’s footsteps to follow in. His brothers were great athletes in track, football, and baseball, his father’s twin brother played for the Kansas City Monarchs while his dad also had an opportunity in the negro league with the Pittsburgh Crawfords but had to go to war. Deshea was a natural and played multiple sports throughout his childhood and excelled athletically and academically. He was heavily recruited in both basketball and football; however, he didn’t quite meet the height requirement so football it was. Although he played quarterback in high school and led South Panola to win the championship in 1993. He went on to play as cornerback at The University of Alabama wearing #2. He was named All-Sec in 1995,1996,1997 as well as named team co-captain in 1997. He continued his career in the NFL going fourth round to the Pittsburgh Steelers as #26. During his 12 year stint he had endless stats and was a 2x Super Bowl champion. As a true lover of the game, he couldn’t just retire and play golf or go fishing, he decided to stay close to the game and entered the coaching realm. Starting his coaching career with the Arizona Cardinals, going closer to home at Mississippi State, took a trip to Nashville with the Tennessee Titans, took a bite of the Big Apple with the New York Giants, had some deep dish pizza with the Chicago Bears and now he’s under palm trees with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A journey to follow from hometown hero to household name, Deshea’s impact…

Speaker

Veltis Mychel Walton, is a native of Batesville, MS. The daughter of Veltis Glover Smith and the late Jerry Kuykendall. The wife of Kevin Walton, and we have three beautiful children, Kyla, Tyra, and Kelton. A member of Concord Missionary Baptist Church, where I teach Sunday School. An entrepreneur at heart, she owns of Kyla Kole’s Salon, and she is also an

Soft Music

INVOCATION

Rev. Zannie Leland, Jr.

INTRODUCTION OF MC

Mr. Earl Jones

MISTRESS OF CEREMONY

Mrs. LaSherry Irby

WELCOME

Amaya Flowers

OCCASION

Pamela Pope

ENTERTAINMENT

Johnson Strong

Dinner

INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER

Latorria Moore

SPEAKER

Veltis Walton

PRESENTING THE HONOREE’S

Micheal King • Yolanda Shegog Wright

Dr. Cordella Smith

INTRO OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Tamera Townsend

SPEAKER

Deashea Townsend

RECOGNITION OF BOARD

Terry Townsend

THANK YOU

Sherwin Bradford